Prince reigns supreme on cash chart

Page Tools

Prince reclaimed his pop throne in 2004, banking $US56.5 million
($73.8 million) to place him firmly at the top of Rolling
Stone magazine's annual list of top earning music acts.

"With $US90.3 million ($117.95 million) in ticket sales, Prince
returned to centre stage after a decade in the commercial
wilderness," the US magazine said in its latest issue.

Prince also sold 1.9 million copies of his comeback album
Musicology.

The mercurial pop star, who once changed his name to an
unpronounceable symbol, beat out another icon of the 1980s in
Madonna, who banked $US54.9 million ($71.71 million) on the back of
her Re-Invention Tour and American Life album.

Despite playing only fifty-six concerts in 2004, the Material
Girl hauled in more money on the road than any other artist,
charging as much as $US300 ($392) a seat.

Although she grossed more cash than Prince, Madonna had to make
do with second place because of the "monumental" production costs
of her tour show.

Rolling Stone bases its annual list on ticket and record
sales, publishing and other related revenue.

Rounding off a 1-2-3 finish by the comeback kids, was the heavy
metal band Metallica, whose Madly in Anger with the World Tour
helped push their earnings up to $US43.1 million ($56.3
million).

The musical old guard was well represented in the top 10, with
Elton John, Rod Stewart and Phil Collins all making the list.

But the real veterans were Simon and Garfunkel, who put their
harmonies back on the road for the first time on 20 years, earning
$US24.9 million ($32.52 million) in the process.